On the Beach at Night Alone by Walt Whitman

Beginning with the title, Walt Whitman frequently utilizes symbolism in poetry, "On the Beach at Night Alone." The beach represents standing on the shore of eternity or afterlife. The ocean is an unknown expanse. In comparisons of ocean and afterlife, a colloquialism remarks it takes an even number of rowers to row in a straight line. That is how people find heaven. Night symbolizes death.

Walt Whitman died a bachelor, though he might have found a partner to row to heaven; however, the poem is not completely orientated towards the afterlife and death. It is an homage praising the earth. In essence, he disputes religious beliefs claiming a heaven or "life in other spheres" is better.

He is not disputing the idea of God or Creator when acknowledging an intelligent being overseeing his destiny.

I do not know what follows the death of my body,
But I know well that whatever it is, it is best for me,
And I know well that whatever is really Me shall live just
as much as before.

Later he discusses humanity. Language choices are lurid though referencing commonly beliefs in several religions; wherein, friends and family are consecrated and bound to the church through marriage in order to maintain an eternal bond. Whitman clarifies there is no proof of these claims before continuing. Having human friendship and companionship is one of the undisputed advantages of life in most belief systems.

Making reference to women's nipples, the tone takes a turn to, "But this is the nipple of a breast of my mother, always near and always divine to me, her true child and son, whatever comes." The nipple is symbolic of earth and even if remaining tied to the earth or in limbo, he is content with the afterlife, because the earth made it possible for him to live.

The final stanza has a cynical tone produced though grandeur and imagery of myriads of stars to clarify nothing is more majestic than earth. This is a personal reflection and message to others to begin caring about the earth and also life. In his time and currently several people never thought about living in harmony with the earth, because they were going to heaven one day. People wait patiently for death because heaven is so much better. However, as Walt Whitman actually stands alone on a beach at night he embarrasses the experience and states, "I believe I have this night thought a thought of the clef of eternity."

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